Fishing Vessel Sunk

The 36-foot fishing vessel ICE MAIDEN capsized Sunday, July 3 in the Prince William Sound off Rocky Point, Alaska. Reports say the vessel capsized while hauling in a net full of salmon. Good Samaritan fishing vessels NEW VENTURE and AQUANATOR provided assistance and transported the crew to nearby Cordova. ICE MAIDEN then sank and came to rest on the seafloor in 35 to 45 feet of water, said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Jason Boyle.
R&R Diving Services was contracted to carry out pollution response and salvage of the vessel and worked early Thursday, July 7, to raise and dewater the vessel. Equipment on the salvage barge malfunctioned, and the ICE MAIDEN sank again to a depth of about 180 feet, according to the Coast Guard. Boyle said that the cause of the malfunction is under investigation.

No injuries were reported in the initial sinking or from the salvage attempt. The Coast Guard is working with the salvagers to develop a new salvage plan.